Even though Apple doesn’t tend to announce new iPhones until the fall of each year, we’ve already heard a lot of information with regards to the so-called iPhone 6. Notably, the consensus seems to be that the Cupertino will deliver two variants of the forthcoming handset – one packing a 4.7-inch display, and a further model boasting a panel in excess of 5.5 inches. We’ve also heard, however, that the larger of these two releases will be delayed until next year, and a new report out of Taiwan also appears to suggest that only one will be available in time for the purported September release bracket.

Apple is famed for bleeding out new features in a gradual fashion, and releasing a slightly larger model this year before coming through with a phablet-sized beast later on would continue in this vein. But aside from the company’s habit of slowly trickling upgrades out, it has also been noted that production of the larger model has encountered some issues, and this is the train of thought that Taiwanese publication Industrial & Commercial Times is going with in its new report on the matter.

In its seven-year lifespan, the iPhone has scarcely changed in terms of pure size. Beginning with a 3.5-inch display back in 2007, the current flagship iPhone 5s is a mere half-inch larger, and even though many consumers are happy with this, a growing portion of the market is also waiting on Apple to compete with the major handsets in the Android world.

In bringing a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch model, while also keeping the iPhone 5s on the shelf, Apple could essentially cater to everybody, and as one analyst predicted a few weeks back, offering these larger devices will likely prompt an spike in the number of users jumping ship from Google’s Android.

According to the Industrial & Commercial Times, though, we’ll only be seeing the 4.7-inch model this year, with production starting in July. The 5.5-inch edition, beset by issues, may not reach mass production stage until September, which means that at best, it will hit shelves just in time for Christmas.

What do you think – does the iPhone product line need these larger options? Or is it in fact more important that a device can be held comfortably in one hand? Do share your comments below!